St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and it’s a pretty big deal in Pittsburgh. From the parade to all of the festivities in the downtown and surrounding areas, Pittsburgh is the place to be. We have some great ideas to make this St. Patrick’s Day one for the books.

The Parade

The annual St. Patrick’s Day parade is on Saturday, March 14 at 10 a.m. The parade will begin at the intersection of Liberty Avenue and 11^th Street and go away from downtown toward Grant Street, where it will eventually lead to the Boulevard of the Allies.

The 2015 Parade Grand Marshall is Marty Madigan, a first-generation American whose entire family hails from County Galway, Ireland. He is a Pittsburgh native who recently retired from the Allegheny County Register of Wills office after 35 years.

For more information about the parade and what is going on around the city on St. Patrick’s Day weekend, make sure to check out the official Facebook page of the 2015 parade.

What to Wear

With all of the crazy temperatures Pittsburgh has been experiencing the past few months, warm weather is not guaranteed. This year’s St. Patrick’s Day fashion is going to be all about the layers. Luckily, we have you covered for any scenario.

Although we aren’t ordinarily a fan of green nails; for the occasion, we love this OPI color, “Jasper Jade”. It’s the perfect shade of green to bring you the luck of the Irish.

We love this J.Crew Classic Merino Wool Long Cardigan to wear to the parade … it’s the perfect piece to layer, depending on the weather.

We also love this layered look for the parade.

If you’re looking for a chic outfit to wear into the office on the actual St. Patrick’s Day (which falls on a Tuesday), look no farther than these cute combos for inspiration.

For colder weather, these Hunter Original Tall Rain Boots would be perfect for the parade.

For warmer temperatures, slip into these Tory Burch Mini Miller Flats in Pond Green.

Accessories

If you don’t feel like wearing green, remember the details are in the accessories! From sunglasses to clutches to earrings – and everything in between – you can add a pinch of green!

Add a pop of color with green lenses with these Original Wayfarer Ray Bans.

We love the idea of adding a green statement necklace or scarf to your outfit.

We love this Alex and Ani green bangle to stack on your wrist.

For more St. Patrick’s Day style inspiration, check out our Pinterest boards or our St. Patrick’s Day blog from last year.

We love all of the new trends and styles coming out for weddings in 2015! We asked Bridget Pope, owner of Bella Bridesmaid in Pittsburgh, to weigh in on the biggest bridesmaid trends of the year. So when you ask your bridesmaid with a Bridesmaid Gift Box then you’ll know what to say. Here is what she had to say.

Ombre Dresses

“We’re also seeing a lot of brides choose an Ombre palette of colors which can look beautiful when all put together,” Pope said. “Our bride Jessica chose a Charcoal, Graphite and Dove chiffon dresses by Amsale for her bridesmaids.” (Photo by Ryan Zarichnak)

“A bride will pick gray as the color and then choose three different shades of it and have it all woven into the bridal party,” Pope said.

This style can be used in any season, and with many different color palettes, dress materials and dress lengths.

You can use bright and bold colors

Or keep the ombre more subtle.

Neutrals with Sparkle

Add a bit of glam to your wedding with neutral (and sparkly) bridesmaids’ dresses. Inspired by the roaring 20s, your bridesmaids can all wear the same dress or mix it up with different dresses. If you are having trouble picking a dress for your wedding, don’t worry! Withh the help of sites such as https://www.winniecouture.com/, you’ll be on the right path in no time! You shouldn’t rush when it comes to making this decision, as it it the staple piece of a wedding. So, the more thought you put into your dress, the better the outcome will be when it comes to the big day.

“Brides are really loving to bring in bling on their bridesmaids. Mixing and matching sparkle with different styles and colors of chiffon, lace and tulle can create a unique and fun look for a bridal party,” Pope said. “You can choose different styles with complementary colors and different dresses.”

“Our bride April chose Adrianna Papell style 091866700 in Taupe/Pink for 2 of her bridesmaids. Her other bridesmaids wore various styles of Joanna August in Silver Bells, I Want Candy, Paradise City and Tiny Dancer,” Pope said. (Photo by Veronica Varos Photography)

“Our bride Laura added subtle sparkle into her bridal party with two Jenny Yoo metallic lace dresses mixed with Twill Blush dresses,” Pope added. (Photo by Caitlin Thomas)

Floral

One of the biggest trends for 2015 is floral dresses – which you can mix and match or have your bridesmaids wear the same. Pope said that while the floral trend hasn’t officially hit Pittsburgh yet, it is huge in other parts of the country.

Remember to keep the flowers the bridesmaids carry simple so they won’t clash, and keep the color palette the same if you are choosing different dresses.

Lauren Conrad recently teased Instagram followers with this sneak peek of her bridesmaid dress collection, Paper Crown.

We love the incorporation of the bride’s cultural background in these dresses.

Vintage/Romantic

“We are also seeing a lot of the vintage/romantic look with our brides,” said Pope. “One of our most popular dresses is the Jenny Yoo Annabelle. This is a convertible dress which can be styled in a variety of different ways, allowing each bridesmaid to be unique and also comfortable! The dress comes in many gorgeous shades, and the neutrals have been the most popular. This dress also now comes in Metallic Gold Tulle.

“Our bride Margi’s bridesmaids wore the Annabelle in Shadow Grey.” (As pictured below)

We love these romantic bridesmaid dresses from a wedding last year.

For even more bridesmaid inspiration, make sure to check out our Pinterest boards and our gallery pages. And remember to visit Bella Bridesmaid for all your bridesmaid needs!

It’s your wedding weekend, and you probably have guests coming into town to celebrate. A great way to greet them when they arrive is to have welcome bags ready in their hotel rooms – filled will all the essentials they will need for the weekend. Here are some ideas to help you.

The Container

There are several options you have to choose from to put your guests welcome items in.

Bag

Customizable bags are a great option. You can choose a reusable tote that can be utilized long after your wedding or simply have gift bags made.

We love these totes for your destination beach wedding!

We recommend if you choose a reusable tote, keep the design simple so that guests will want to use it later – i.e. use a creative symbol instead of an elaborate description of your wedding weekend.

Add the location of the wedding to personalize it.

Boxes & Baskets

A box or a basket is a great container to hold the items – and both are customizable!

What to Include

The possibilities are endless. From toiletries to cures for those hangovers to itineraries for the weekend to small souvenirs, your guests will be grateful for your thoughtfulness.

Itineraries

Make sure to include a list of activities and times so your guests know what the schedule will be for the weekend.

Add a note to thank your guests for sharing your special day with you.

Local Attractions

If there is downtime, make sure to include a list of local attractions your guests can visit.

Food and Water

Show your guests some love with snacks and water – they may need a midnight snack after dancing all night long at your wedding!

Let them enjoy some of your favorite things!

Alcohol

Nothing gets a party started like a few libations – include them for your guests to enjoy as they get ready for your day. (Don’t forget to add a mixer, a bottle opener or a corkscrew, if needed!)

Small Souvenir

Give your guests from out of town something to remember your wedding location by – whether it’s a vintage postcard, a seashell if you’re by the beach, or some other small trinket they will appreciate.

Luggage tags are perfect for your out-of-town travelers.

Hangover Cure

Last but not least, be kind to your guests and give them some help to recover from the big day. Include a “Do Not Disturb” sign for their hotel door and maybe a sleeping mask. Sunglasses also provide relief from the harsh rays of the sun the next day.

For more great ideas for your big day, make sure to check out our Pinterest boards and the rest of our blog!